G-Forum Conference 2026 – Cottbus

Call for Papers (submissions now open)
Conference tool (registration and paper submission)
Hotels & Accomodations
Conference Locations

In 2026, the 29th Annual Interdisciplinary Conference on Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and SMEs (G-Forum) will take place from September 16 to 18, 2026, in Cottbus. The lead partner of the FGF – Forschungsnetzwerk Entrepreneurship, Innovation und Mittelstand e.V. is the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) in collaboration with the Medical University of Lausitz – Carl Thiem (MUL-CT). The hosts are Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig, Chair of Business Administration, in particular Empirical Management Research and Transformation, Prof. Dr. Katharina Scheidgen, Chair of Business Administration, in particular Investment and Finance, at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), and Prof. Dr. Eckhard Nagel, Board Chair at Medical University of Lausitz – Carl Thiem.

Theme
The thematic focus of the G-Forum 2026 in Cottbus is:

Crossing Boundaries – Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship at the Intersection of Technology, Health, and Society

This year’s conference theme addresses the interface between entrepreneurial practice and innovation in healthcare delivery. Against the backdrop of structural change driven by technological and organizational innovations, new forms of self-employment are gaining importance alongside the often-highlighted high-tech startups. These range from established physician practices—whether solo or group practices—to complex multi-site outpatient care organizations, as well as innovative ventures in nursing, therapy, and allied health professions.

We particularly invite contributions that link entrepreneurship research and health services research. What role do entrepreneurial competencies play for medical and nursing professionals in shaping new models of care? How do existing healthcare delivery structures influence the introduction and diffusion of innovations? What specific challenges do entrepreneurial ecosystems face in the highly regulated healthcare sector? How can international perspectives contribute to and motivate innovative healthcare-focused entrepreneurial activity? In addition to classical studies on entrepreneurship and innovation, we seek analyses that view both disruptive, technology-driven ventures and freelance professional self-employment, as well as care-oriented startups, as key pillars of a comprehensive, sustainable, and resilient healthcare system.

Keynotes
Phil­lip H. Phan, Ph.D., Alonzo and Virginia Decker Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School with joint appointments at Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Whiting School of Engineering will deliver a keynote address.
Further keynote speakers will be announced at a later date.

Topics
In addition to submissions related to the current main theme of the conference, the program chairs explicitly welcome all submissions that correspond to the three main thematic pillars of the FGF e.V. These are:

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Innovation
  • SMEs

In this way, the G-Forum fulfils its role as a central platform for the scientific community to exchange views on the current state of scientific discussion.

Science and practice
To promote the exchange between science and practice, submissions “from both worlds” are explicitly welcome. Thematically focused sessions will be based either on submissions from science or from practice. There are two separate review processes to accommodate the different requirements of submissions from science and practice.

Languages
The conference languages are German and English.

Submission types
It is possible to submit full papers (max. 30 pages excluding bibliography, graphics, and tables) to the G-Forum. Authors of full paper submissions will receive a developmental review from members of the G-Forum Review Board and can qualify for an approx. 20-minute presentation plus a 10-minute discussion. However, you can also submit proposals for presentations as an abstract. An abstract should not exceed 1,000 words. Short abstracts can qualify for shorter presentations (10 minutes) or poster presentations.

Please submit your full papers and abstracts as an anonymized pdf document (without author information) by May 10, 2026, via the G-Forum conference tool.

Guidelines for submission (full paper and abstracts)
Research- and practice-oriented papers can be submitted. Please register as a user of the G-Forum conference tool. Please do not forget to upload your anonymized submission as a PDF document. Submissions are possible in German or English.

Submissions of scientific contributions should ideally be structured as follows:

  • Problem definition (research gap / objective)
  • Theoretical foundation
  • Methodology / empirical research context
  • Results
  • Implications for entrepreneurship research and practice

Submissions of practical contributions should include a clear starting point, objectives, results, and implications for practice.

Review process
The selection of full papers and abstracts to be presented at the conference will be based on a double-blind review process. Only full paper submissions will receive a developmental review. The G-Forum review board is responsible for the review process. Authors are expected to be notified of the acceptance of their submissions by mid-July 2026.

Awards
On the occasion of the 29th G-Forum 2026 in Cottbus, various Best Paper Awards will be presented for the following target groups and thematic areas of the FGF:

  1. KSG Entrepreneurship Research Award 2026
    The award, endowed with €4,000 and open to topics in the field of entrepreneurship, is supported by the Karl Schlecht Stiftung.
  2. Entrepreneurship Research Newcomer Award 2026
    The award, endowed with €1,000 and open to all topics in the field of entrepreneurship, is funded by the Stiftung für die Wissenschaft der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe and is explicitly aimed at submissions whose the first author (leading author) has not yet completed their PhD.
  3. Family Business and Mittelstand Research Award 2026
    The award, endowed with €1,000 and open to topics in the areas of Family Business and Mittelstand, is supported by the EQUA Stiftung.
  4. Student Award 2026
    The award, endowed with the conference participation fee of up to €490 and open to all topics in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, SMEs, or family business, is aimed at authors of a completed master’s theses related to the above-mentioned topics.

With a full-paper submission to the G-Forum 2026, participants are automatically registered for one of the possible award nominations. Information about the awards is on our FGF homepage. We also recommend following the news within our German FGF newsletter.

Conference proceedings
Additionally, the FGF plans to publish the abstracts (in English, optionally short or extended abstracts) of the submitted contributions as conference proceedings in the FGF publication series (FGF-Schriftenreihe, ISSN 3051-9292, ISBN 978-3-00-085450-7). When submitting via the conference tool, you will be informed about this publication and have the option to give your consent or decline. Further information is available here.

Publication opportunity in the Journal of Family Business Strategy (JFBS)
In addition, the best full paper in the field of family business will be invited for publication in a special issue of the JFBS.

Doctoral Colloquium
On September 16, 2026, we invite interested doctoral students in the fields of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, SMEs, and family businesses to a doctoral colloquium. Experienced researchers introduce the following questions and themes:

  • How to successfully master a PhD
  • How to publish my doctoral research in reputable academic journals
  • An introduction to the FGF structured doctoral program – class of 2027

Moreover, selected doctoral students will have the opportunity to present their ongoing research projects in a developmental workshop atmosphere and to discuss them with experienced scholars. A proposal should contain a two- to three-page description with the following information:

  • Topic
  • Research question(s)
  • Research design
  • Hypothesis (hypotheses) and
  • (If available) first results and information about questions for the colloquium.

Please register by email to the FGF office (info@fgf-ev.de) by July 31, 2026, using the keyword Doctoral Colloquium. Participation in the doctoral colloquium is linked to registration for the G-Forum.

Post-Doc Workshop
On September 16, 2026, we will also host, for the first time, a Post-Doc Workshop for interested postdoctoral researchers in the fields of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, SMEs, and family businesses. Experienced researchers will be available as mentors for individual exchange, answering questions and providing feedback as well as valuable information that is relevant and helpful at this stage of an academic career.

Please send an informal registration, including the topics you would like to discuss, with the subject “Post-Doc Workshop” via e-mail to the FGF office (info@fgf-ev.de) by July 31, 2026. Participation in the Post-Doc Workshop is linked to registration for the G-Forum.

Conference Fees

  • Members of FGF: €340
  • Non-members of FGF including FGF membership*: €460
  • Non-members of FGF without FGF membership: €490

(*The participation fee already includes the amount of your FGF membership for 1 year (€120 for 2027). If the membership is not cancelled in writing by September 30, 2027, it will automatically be extended for another year. The conditions from the association’s statutes apply.)

The conference fees include participation in all conference sessions, conference materials, and all meals during the conference (coffee and lunch breaks) and participation in the conference dinner

Students
A limited number of students (no doctoral students and no research associates) will be able to participate in the conference for a fee of €100. Applications (informal request, copy of student ID card) must be sent to the email address info@fgf-ev.de. The decision will be communicated by email in September.

Overview of important dates

Doctoral Colloquium:
September 16, 2026, at MUL-CT

Registrations with the subject Doctoral Colloquium by July 31, 2026, by email (info@fgf-ev.de)

Post-Doc-Workshop:
September 16, 2026, at MUL-CT

Registrations with the subject Post-Doc-Workshop by July 31, 2026, by email (info@fgf-ev.de)

Conference:
September 17 & 18, 2026, at BTU

  • May 10, 2026: Deadline for submission of full papers and abstracts via the conference tool
  • Mid-July 2026 (expected): Notification of acceptance of submissions
  • August 23, 2026: Registration deadline for participants with accepted contributions for presentation at the G-Forum
  • September 09, 2026: Registration deadline for participants without a presentation

Accommodation
Hotels near the conference location (Cottbus) are available in various price ranges. Please reserve your hotel early; shortly before the conference it will be very difficult to find free accommodation.

We look forward to welcoming you in Cottbus!

Contact:

Responsible for the conference program

Prof. Dr. Matthias Baum
Chair of Entrepreneurship and Digital Business Models
University of Bayreuth

Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig
Chair of Business Administration, in particular Empirical Management Research and Transformation
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)

Prof. Dr. Katharina Scheidgen
Chair of Business Administration, in particular Investment and Finance
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)

Prof. Dr. (mult.) Eckhard Nagel
Chair of Hospital Care (Board Chair)
Medical University of Lausitz – Carl Thiem (MUL-CT)

Organizer

FGF – Forschungsnetzwerk Entrepreneurship, Innovation und Mittelstand e.V.
c/o Dr. Madlen Schwing
Haus 1, Zapf-Gebäude, 3. OG
Nürnberger Str. 38
D-95448 Bayreuth
Phone: +49 160 366 9087
E-mail: info@fgf-ev.de
Internet: www.fgf-ev.de

Local organization

Prof. Dr. Diemo Urbig
Chair of Business Administration, in particular Empirical Management Research and Transformation
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)
E-mail: urbig@b-tu.de 
Internet: www.b-tu.de/fg-unternehmensforschung

Prof. Dr. Katharina Scheidgen
Chair of Business Administration, in particular Investment and Finance
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)
E-mail: katharina.scheidgen@b-tu.de
Internet: www.b-tu.de/fg-finanzierung

Prof. Dr. (mult.) Eckhard Nagel
Chair of Hospital Care (Board Chair)
Medical University of Lausitz – Carl Thiem (MUL-CT)
E-mail: eckhard.nagel@mul-ct.de
Internet: mul-ct.de

Katrin Erb
Knowledge- and Technology Transfer
Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU)
E-mail: katrin.erb@b-tu.de
Internet: www.b-tu.de/transfer